by Joe Bollig
joe.bollig@theleaven.org
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Have you ever wondered what it would be like to attend a Scripture series led by Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann?
Wonder no more.
“Archbishop Naumann is offering a Lenten Scripture study of the . . . Gospels for Ash Wednesday and the first five Sundays of Lent,” said Emily Lopez, lead consultant for the archdiocesan office of adult evangelization.
This series is part of the fulfillment of one of three key initiatives comprising the archbishop’s 10-year mutually shared vision to “build a culture of evangelization across the archdiocese,” as well as the archdiocesan Enflame plan for evangelization.
Episodes of the archbishop’s Lenten Scripture series can be listened to online. Episodes will premiere on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 17, and the five Fridays during Lent.
To listen to the series, go to the Enflame website at: archkcks.org. Past episodes will also be available as part of “The Shepherd’s Voice” podcast at: archkck.libsyn.com. Follow the directions on the website.
You can also follow the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas on Facebook to get a link to the latest episodes. Members of the Enflame Our Hearts — ArchKCK Facebook group also get notices when each new installment becomes available.
“This is an effort to reach out to people when they are generally more open to taking on some kind of spiritual resolution during Lent,” said Lopez.
The episodes will last 30 minutes. The format calls for a Scripture reading for the coming Sunday by Deacon Bill Scholl, followed by a reflection by Archbishop Naumann and then a short personal witness by a layperson.
There will also be a downloadable PDF with three or four reflection questions that can be used by an individual or for discussion by small groups.
The Scripture readings used in the episodes might not match with the Scriptures at the following weekend’s Mass, said Lopez. That’s because the episodes will use the Gospels for the Scrutinies for Sundays three, four and five from the Gospel of John used in the Cycle A Mass readings, and pastors might use other readings.
The advantages of this series are that it doesn’t require a big commitment of time or expense.
“We’re blessed to have an archbishop who has an amazing insight into Scripture and a relationship with Jesus that comes out in his teaching,” said Lopez. “And we especially wanted to offer something that people could access at no cost.”
